Timothy became more cautious when he saw Austin using the level two sword intent.
"Good job! I didn't think that you would have grasped the level two sword intent. But it's a pity that you
are only at level nine of the Energy Gathering Realm. The power of the sword intent varies with
cultivators of different vital energy cultivation bases. You're still no match for me!
Attack!"
Timothy yelled. The huge axe images above his head were flung towards Austin with a berserk vital
energy force.
"Block!"
Austin immediately summoned the sword intent. Sword-lights shot out at the axe shadows like
countless powerful crossbows.
Austin had planned not to reveal his real competence just yet, so he retained his vital energy force to
level nine of the vital Energy Gathering Realm, using a special skill he had learned from Violet.
"Clang! Clang..."
A string of metal collision sounds rang through the battle ring. Although both the axe shadows and the
sword-lights were derived from vital energy force, they seemed to be so real that when they collided, it
sounded like actual metal banging against each other.
As the battle wore on, it seemed like Timothy was steadily gaining the upper hand. The sword intents
used by Austin were blown to smithereens that turned into starry lights and vanished into the air.
The sword intent, which had filled up almost the entire battle ring, had shrunk to an area of just ten feet
around Austin.
"Hahaha! I'm always ahead of you in the vital energy realm. How can an Energy Gathering Realm
cultivator compete with an Earth Realm cultivator!"
Timothy said, arrogance flashing in his eyes.
"Nonsense! It's too early for you to talk big!"
Austin shot back. Despite his seeming disadvantage in the battle, he looked calm and there was no
sign of alarm in his eyes.
"Hmph! Then let the results prove it!
Heaven Split Axe!"
Timothy ordered and a vital energy swirl, more than 30 feet high, appeared above his head. It sucked
those axe shadows inside with a strong pull. The overwhelming axe shadows, which were spread
across half of the battle ring, vanished. Apart from the crazily rotating vital energy swirl above him,
everything seemed calm again.
In an instant, the vital energy swirl grew into one massive axe, which was more than 100 feet long,
filling the entire battle ring. At the same time, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathered quickly
in all directions.
Standing under the huge axe, Timothy's robe flapped about, even though there was no wind.
Obviously, his momentum had risen to a high degree.
"Haha! Heaven Split Axe, kill everything that comes in my way! Chop!"
The heaven split axe skill that Timothy had deployed, gathered a violent momentum.
"Wow! The Earth Realm cultivator's competence is incredible!"
"Yes! His competence isn't less than that of the stewards in our sect."
"Austin will be defeated. It's impossible for an Energy Gathering Realm cultivator to block such
attacks."
... ...
The buzz of conversation outside the battle ring rose higher.
There were over 80 stewards in the Sun Sect and they were all shocked by Timothy's performance. If
an outer disciple, ranking number three had reached such a high level, then the disciples who ranked
first and second must be much more competent.
Had Timothy's expertise had already surpassed that of the outer disciples who ranked first and second
after hard practice?
Theon and the six elders smiled as they watched Timothy in admiration. Obviously, they were very
satisfied with his performance. Now there was no doubt that Timothy would become the focus of sect
leaders during the training session.
Austin became more cautious.
'It's hard to believe that there are such powerful disciples in the outer sect! Three years ago, when I
won the first place among the outer disciples, I was just at level nine of the Energy Gathering Realm.
Timothy seems to be right. Compared to the challenge three years ago, the outer disciples of this
session are much more powerful.
If I had met a disciple as robust as Timothy in the challenge three years ago, I might have been
defeated. Fortunately, I have been making progress in the last few days, so I don't have to worry today,
' Austin thought.
He calmed down and summoned the level two sword intent from his soul and the sword-lights of the
Illusory Swordsmanship appeared in front of the crowd.
The light and energy released from the sword surrounded Austin and looked surreal and unpredictable.
Each inch of the sword-light contained endless illusory sword intent.
The spiritual energy of heaven and earth coming from different directions gathered in the mist, like
rivers running into the sea.
In the blink of an eye, Austin activated the level two sword intent. He waved the Violet Royal Sword in
the mist surrounding him, and an incredible radiance shot out from it.
"Phew!"
The sword radiance raced towards the huge axe.
With a bang, they collided in the air. The sword radiance was crushed. It transformed into millions of
shining golden spots and then disappeared, while the huge axe's power reduced significantly and it
halved in size.
It fell on Austin's head. Although the giant axe's power had declined, as it had been cast by an Earth
Realm cultivator, everyone thought that Austin would be cut into pieces if he was hit by the axe.
Seeing that the sword radiance was broken, Austin immediately raised his right arm. The muscles in
his arm rippled like many stampeding horses. A thousand pounds of strength collected in his arm.
With the aura of a wild beast, he let out a ferocious roar, just like a tiger roaring on the mountain.
Then he punched the axe flying towards him.
Everyone was shocked
to see the huge axe crack with a loud bang and fall.
As Timothy had used his full strength for the attack, Austin had to release his vital energy at level nine
of the Energy Gathering Realm plus a thousand-pound punch. Even so, he only managed to block the
attack to some extent.
Everyone thought that Austin was doomed to be defeated, and if he was lucky enough, he might only
lose his hands or feet instead of being chopped to pieces.
But after this round, everyone was convinced that Austin would be safe and sound despite only
escaping the attack narrowly.
All the disciples
gasped collectively.
They realized that Austin was no ordinary man. He had managed to resist the attack from a cultivator at
the preliminary stage of Earth Realm with his cultivation base at level nine of Energy Gathering Realm.
"Wow! Austin is in great physical shape!"
some eagle-eyed cultivators had figured out that Austin had blocked Timothy's attack with mere
physical strength.
"It's impossible!"
Timothy roared in shock and anger. It was hard for him to comprehend how a cultivator at level nine of
the Energy Gathering Realm could have blocked his forceful attack.
'Everyone knows how hard it can be for an Energy Gathering Realm cultivator to reach Earth Realm,
but why does Austin not seem to be inferior to me?'
Timothy wondered. His beliefs about martial arts were upended by what he had seen.
... ...
Before the huge axe completely shattered to pieces, Austin stamped his tiptoe and a vital energy force
covered his feet. Using the Wind-commanding Skill to its hilt, he moved at a speed of 20 meters per
step and suddenly reached a meter away from Timothy.
Before Timothy could recover from the shock of what just happened, Austin had cast a Spiritual Sense
Flying Needle at him. As Austin had reached the preliminary stage of Earth Realm in the vital energy
cultivation base, his Spiritual Sense power had improved.
Timothy felt a sharp pain the moment the Spiritual Sense Flying Needle entered his brain. He paused
for a few seconds and in that time he felt like he was knocked out of his senses.
Taking this opportunity, Austin threw another punch.
The overwhelming power of the punch surrounded Timothy.
Being unable to breathe smoothly, Timothy was in panic. Although he had reached a high level in vital
energy cultivation base, he was far less powerful in physical strength than Austin, plus he had been
attacked by the Spiritual Sense Flying Needle, which meant he was unable to dodge the punch.
Reacting to this crisis, he released all his vital energy force, hoping to form a protection covering
around him.
But Austin wouldn't let that happen.
Before Timothy could protect himself with the vital energy cover, he had been hit in the stomach by
Austin's fist.
He suddenly felt debilitating pain in his stomach, and his internal organs seemed to have been crushed
with the impact of the punch. He coughed up a big mouthful of blood.
His body bent like a shrimp and he fell out of the battle ring.
The disciples who were watching the match immediately moved aside to make space, and Timothy
slammed to the ground with a thud, creating a hole beneath him that was about half a meter deep.
Fortunately, the ground was covered with soft soil. Besides, Austin's intention was not to kill him, so
Timothy stayed alive. Ignoring the sharp pain, Timothy managed to stand up. His injuries were not very
serious, so he would recover after a period of rest and this wouldn't impact his future cultivation.
Timothy got up from the ground with a pale face. Realizing that he had no strength to fight anymore, he
left the competition area, frustrated.
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